[ZParvin]

Skin rash during Velcade-thalidomide-dex treatment

by ZParvin on Sun Jun 29, 2014 11:11 pm

Hello,

I was just wondering if anyone could help me out. My dad is currently going through his second cycle of chemo (Velcade-thalidomide-dex) and, a couple of days ago, he noticed a rash on his arm, that then spread to his chest and back. The rash is accompanied by itchiness but my dad says that it comes and goes.

Has anyone experienced this before? I'm trying to figure out whether this has been brought on by the myeloma / any of the medications (although he hasn't reacted like this before) or whether it's something else altogether?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[vicstir]

Re: Skin rash during Velcade-thalidomide-dex treatment

by vicstir on Mon Jun 30, 2014 1:31 am

Gday,

I too got a rash that was red and itchy about two cycles in. It was almost hive like. Turned out I was allergic to my anti bacterial meds I was on. Bactrim [trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole]. It was nothing to do with the chemo. My rash flared up when I exposed myself to the sun.

yours vic.

P.S. - My rash cleared up when I stopped taking Bactrim. I now have pentamidine via a nebulizer once a month.

[Dr. Jason Valent]

Re: Skin rash during Velcade-thalidomide-dex treatment

by Dr. Jason Valent on Mon Jun 30, 2014 7:03 am

Thalidomide may cause skin rash. Would discuss with the treating physician.

[gmarv]

Re: Skin rash during Velcade-thalidomide-dex treatment

by gmarv on Mon Jun 30, 2014 8:48 am

I have been on VRD treatment for a year and a half. Everytime I stop taking Revlimid for a week or longer, when I start back taking it, I get a rash on my head and shoulders for a few days and then its goes away.

Anyway, maybe your dad's reaction is temporary too.

[Phantom0730]

Re: Skin rash during Velcade-thalidomide-dex treatment

by Phantom0730 on Fri Jul 04, 2014 2:35 pm

I had 8 months of chemo with Velcade beginning in October of 2009. I decided not to get an autologous stem cell transplant after learning about its effects on the immune system. I wanted to give my immune system a chance to kick in and began taking 5 grams of fucoidan supplement daily. Research in Japan has proven fucoidan causes apoptosis of cancer cells, prevents angiogenesis, and boosts natural killer cells. I am also on the Initial Phase (Kaufmann) Diet, much like an Atkins and ketogenic diet. The goal is to avoid carbs and load up on fats. Cancer cells cannot metabolize fats and needs glucose to survive. The human body, on the other hand, can get its energy solely from fats.

My blood test results showed my IgG averaging 1200 and my MSPEP averaging 1.0 with minor spikes. After a year of these positive results, the doctor found less than 2% cancerous tissue in my bone marrow after an aspiration. My skeletal X-rays show no bone deformities or tumors.

I have been feeling great ever since with one minor problem. I get what looks like atopic dermatitis from time to time, mostly in the summer. The itching drives me wild. Although I have tried various anti-fungal and hydrocortisone creams, what seems to work best is fexonfenadine hydrochloride [Allegra, Telfast] tablets - a non-drowsy 24 hour antihistamine over the counter medicine.

The cause of this skin rash remains a mystery, as well as why it flares up in the summer. My guess is that proteins produced by the myeloma neoplasms are secreted through the skin pores and cause an allergic response. Since the body naturally sweats more in the summer, it would explain why it appears more in summer.

Since I’ve been off chemo for many years and never had a stem cell transplant, I don’t think either of these are the cause of the skin rash.

[Huey1947]

Re: Skin rash during Velcade-thalidomide-dex treatment

by Huey1947 on Sun Feb 01, 2015 12:35 am

Are still taking fucoidan? How long did you take fucoidan at 5 g? Thanks.